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Pub and club door staff not properly registered and licensed are in breach of the law and will liable to prosecution, Derbyshire police have warned.
Throughout the summer, the force says, officers will carry out spot checks on door staff and licensed premises across the county to ensure that the new regulations regarding door staff are being adhered to and fully met.
The new regulation, introduced in the Private Security and Industry Act 2001, became effective in Derbyshire in January 2005. The regulations require door staff to register applications with the newly formed Security Industry Authority (SIA) whose role is to regulate the private security industry.
Officers from Derbyshire Constabulary have spent the past few months advising and warning door staff who were not registered. A campaign has also been run by the SIA to raise awareness of the legislation among licensees and door staff companies.
The SIA has granted 500 licenses in the county so far but police are concerned that there are still companies, individuals and licensed premises operating without proper licences.
The campaign of enforcement, Operation Ampere, will be based on information received by police and no advanced warning will be given to the premises or individuals who are checked.
Chief Insp Kul Mahay, who is leading Operation Ampere, said: "I believe that the security and licensing industry has had enough time to ensure that their door staff are fully trained and registered. The quality of door supervision in popular pubs and clubs has a real impact upon reducing crime and disorder. I want people to be able to go out and enjoy themselves, safe in the knowledge that the people carrying out door security are professional. Anyone that we find who is operating illegally will be prosecuted. "
